Today's interconnected world is a wonderful place to be—most of the time. Sadly, despite our amazing technology, companies face a great deal of security challenges and other cybersecurity risks. Protecting your company's most valuable assets is critical to maintaining regular business operations, preventing risk, and keeping your bottom line intact. Some areas of concern, such as phishing and social engineering are pretty well known. But other areas like zero day vulnerabilities and misconfiguration of security settings might leave some companies scratching their heads. Fortunately, we put together this guide to addressing common network security problems in your organization. Check it out below.

Phishing and Social Engineering

Phishing attempts are still quite common nowadays. Phishing and social engineering are two common network security issues that everyone's probably heard of but are difficult to prevent. In phishing and social engineering, attackers try to collect information and steal it by having users unwittingly perform actions that will compromise their security. To address this issue correctly, organizations must implement comprehensive security awareness and training programs so employees know what to look for in regard to a potential phishing attack. More than that, they should also use email filtering solutions that can detect and block phishing attempts or mark them as spam. 

Insufficient Visibility and Control

Visibility and control are two vital keys to preventing unauthorized access to your network. A lack of visibility can lead to threats going undetected and can create common network security issues. To address this problem, companies should have network monitoring and management tools. That way they can see real time insight into traffic patterns, user activities, and any possible security risks. Having improved access controls can also be a way to understand and assess the potential impact of a security issue such as a breach or intrusion. Not having the proper level of visibility control over your resources can lead to trouble down the line, so it's best to implement protocols to address visibility gaps throughout your organization.

Zero Day Vulnerabilities

In the computing world, there's something known as a zero day vulnerability. A zero day vulnerability is a special kind of terrible event. In most situations, companies are able to create software patches to prevent outdated software from posing a security problem to the organization. In contrast, zero day vulnerabilities are insidious unknown security flaws that are hiding in software. And unfortunately, cyber criminals find and exploit them before they can be patched. To prevent this, organizations can adopt a proactive approach to vulnerability management. Update your software. Do penetration testing. Do some vulnerability testing. Deploy advanced software and threat detection solutions. 

Misconfiguration in Security Settings

It's happened to everyone calling: you set up the latest app or gadget and instead of finding yourself with a fantastic piece of tech, you find it doesn't work at all. That's because you accidentally or inadvertently misconfigured it. Unfortunately misconfiguration poses a significant problem in the real world, especially as it pertains to information technology. Misconfigurations and security settings can expose networks to cyber threats, making them more vulnerable to attacks. It's like walking around in the winter time without a jacket. To prevent this issue, organizations should establish and enforce strict configuration policies and utilize automated tools to monitor and validate security settings. Regular audits and reviews of network configurations can also help identify and remediate potential vulnerabilities.

Using Network Security Software 

In addition to some of the more common sense items and educational things companies can do to prevent security problems, one of the best mitigation methods is using security software. Incorporating a powerful network security software as well as preventative measures into your organization can protect you from a wide array of different Cyber threats. Network Security Solutions often include  firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and secure gateways to defend against external attacks. Additionally, organizations can choose to employ data encryption, secure authentication methods (like 2FA and MFA), and regular network vulnerability assessments to ensure the ongoing security of their networks. By addressing these common network security problems, organizations can significantly reduce their risk of cyberattacks and safeguard their valuable assets. Find ways to mitigate and use network security management software to help keep your organization safe.